JOHANNESBURG, October 21 (ANA) – There has been little to separate Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates over the last few years and this trend continued with a 0-0 Soweto derby draw in a league match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The game was far from a classic, but did at least provide some decent entertainment with both sides having good chances, although it was probably Chiefs who came the closest to scoring. On the balance of play, however, a draw was just about the right result and will likely suit both coaches, who are never more than a few poor results away from feeling the heat of the expectant fans.
With the stands buzzing – just over 70 000 attended, the game got off to a lively start and both keepers had work to do in the opening 10 minutes as Itumeleng Khune turned Thabo Qalinge’s grass-cutter around the post before Wayne Sandilands did well to beat Bernard Parker to the ball on the edge of his box.
However, the pace was to drop off slightly on a hot afternoon as both teams struggled to find much fluency and it was only in the 29th minute when the next chance arrived, when the Amakhosi were unlucky not to take the lead when Siyabonga Ngezana thumped a header into the woodwork.
Pirates were to end the first half on top, but couldn’t score as Khune made routine saves to keep out Thabo Rakhale and Mpho Makola before doing superbly to save Qalinge’s stinging drive from a 43rd minute corner.
Gustavo Paez was rushed back early from injury for the derby and he was introduced a few minutes into the second half, replacing Hendrick Ekstein, as Chiefs coach Steve Komphela looked for more bite in attack.
The tempo of the game was to pick up substantially and there was action in both boxes, although no efforts on target. Sandilands was called into action 20 minutes from time as he made a brilliant diving save to keep out Willard Katsande’s header.
There was drama two minutes later when the Sea Robbers had the ball in the net, but Bernard Morrison used his hand rather than his head to score from close range and the goal was correctly disallowed.
After Khune kept out Qalinge once more, an unmarked Daniel Cardoso wasted a gilt-edged chance to win the game for Glamour Boys when he volleyed over the bar from close range 10 minutes from time.
Chiefs appeared the more likely side to snatch a late win, but they were unable to open up the Pirates defence as the derby ended in a draw for the fourth consecutive league encounter.
– African News Agency (ANA)
